WILLIAMSBURG — The Trustees of Reservations and its affiliate Hilltown Land Trust are working to raise $1.5 million by June 30 to purchase Beaver Brook Golf Course in Williamsburg and Northampton with the ambitious goal to “rewild” the 288-acre property, turning it into an area for both recreation and conservation.

“Rewilding” the landscape will involve a combination of allowing nature to take root on the property and facilitating natural growth with the planting of native species. But there are also plans to expand upon existing golf cart and snowmobiling trails for recreational use, repurpose buildings on the property for community use, and potentially turn the clubhouse building into a western Massachusetts headquarters for both The Trustees and Hilltown Land Trust.

“The idea that we can restore nature to places that have had a heavy footprint of human use on them, and that we can bring people into that work is something I’m really excited about,” said Katie Theoharides, president and CEO of The Trustees.

The nine-hole golf course opened in 1960 and is currently owned by the Duval family of Williamsburg, which purchased it in 2018.

It is expected to take approximately two years before the new reservation will be ready to open — with native plants growing comfortably on the golf course, signs installed, trail work completed and the clubhouse converted into office space. However, once these processes are complete, the whole property will be open to the public, and the community will be able to witness as nature slowly reclaims an area marked by human use for many years.

Theoharides explained that part of what made the Beaver Brook property so attractive to The Trustees was its sheer size, and the opportunity it presents to conserve hundreds of acres of floodplain, wetlands and forest.

“The Trustees’ mission is to protect special places for everyone forever, and this property really has an opportunity to become a special place within this community and provide a lot of access to neighboring communities,” Theoharides said.

By conserving this land, Theoharides explained that The Trustees will also be able to build climate resilience for the broader community by restoring the floodplain on the property.

“The way the brook is situated now, it’s really constrained from following its natural course,” Theoharides said. “So as we see more of these really flashy, high-volume rain events with a changing climate, being able to restore it back to a floodplain that has spongy ground that allows water to infiltrate will keep the Mill River that flows down through Florence and Northampton from being as flashy as it’s been in the past.”

By replanting native species and allowing the brook on the property to naturally meander, floodwaters in the area will be better stored, increasing local resilience when these rain events occur.

The Beaver Brook floodplain habitat is also recognized by the commonwealth as a coldwater fishery and core aquatic habitat. Restoring this area also aims to enhance its biodiversity. The remaining 175 or so acres of forest on the property will provide a habitat for native flora and fauna, as well as vital carbon storage.

Wendy Ferris, regional vice president of The Trustees for the Central and Valley region, also notes that the property’s prominence on Route 9 and proximity to bus routes will create opportunities for the public to experience these conservation efforts firsthand and enjoy the scenic walking trails that will be available.

“We really want to help facilitate nature as it takes over,” Ferris said, noting that the public will have a front-row seat to this process once the property opens.

The Trustees have plans to improve informal trails in the property’s wooded hills to provide connectivity and accessibility. These trails will be open for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, mountain biking and more.

“I think the rewilding process is going to be so captivating for people to witness,” Ferris said. “They will be able to get up close and watch that and take really beautiful walks through the property as that unfolds.”

This restoration process will also be documented for scientific study to help inform future restoration efforts. Signs throughout the property will also seek to engage visitors in learning about conservation and climate solutions.

The total cost of acquiring, endowing and completing this project is $5.5 million, but The Trustees have $4 million in public and private grants in the pipeline to make the project a reality. The Trustees aim to raise the remaining $1.5 million by the end of June. Donations can be made on The Trustees’ website at www.thetrustees.org/beaverbrook. At the time of writing, $35,000 has been raised toward that goal.

Also available on the website is information about registration for two upcoming public events regarding the project. On April 16, a virtual “Lunch and Learn” will be held over Zoom from noon until 1 p.m. On May 15, an in-person “Experience Beaver Brook” event will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and will feature guided walks of the property.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.